2026 Canada Excellence Research Chairs Competition: Merit indicators

The institution’s plan to sustain the research advantage created by the Chair is exemplary.

Funding commitments and other in-kind contributions secured through partnerships and other sources are highly valuable to the program’s intended outcomes and sustainability, including the ability to retain the chairholder beyond the period of the award.

The institution’s plan to sustain the research advantage created by the Chair is excellent.

Funding commitments and other in-kind contributions secured through partnerships and other sources are valuable to the program’s intended outcomes and sustainability, including the ability to retain the chairholder beyond the period of the award.

The institution’s plan to sustain the research advantage created by the Chair is adequate.

Funding commitments and other in-kind contributions secured through partnerships and other sources are relevant to the program’s intended outcomes and sustainability, including the ability to retain the chairholder beyond the period of the award.

The institution’s plan to sustain the research advantage created by the Chair is modest.

Funding commitments and other in-kind contributions secured through partnerships and other sources provide some value to the program’s intended outcomes and sustainability, including the ability to retain the chairholder beyond the period of the award.

The institution’s plan to sustain the research advantage created by the Chair is not clearly demonstrated.

Funding commitments and other in-kind contributions secured through partnerships and other sources do not appear to bring value to the program’s intended outcomes and sustainability, including the ability to retain the chairholder beyond the period of the award.

2.3 Institution’s research strengths in the proposed field, assessed against global standards of excellence.

The institution is widely recognized as a world-leader in the proposed field of research, consistently producing groundbreaking work that sets the global benchmark in the field.

The institution is recognized internationally as a major centre in the proposed field of research, regularly contributing high-impact work that significantly advances the field.

The institution has a good reputation internationally in the proposed field of research, producing solid and respected work that meets the global standard in the field.

The institution has some international visibility in the proposed field of research, with some promising work that often meets global standards but lacks consistent impact.

The institution has limited recognition internationally in the proposed field of research, producing work that does not consistently meet the global standard and that has a minimal impact on the field.

2.4 Strength of the institution’s overall commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in research and academia. This includes the quality of the outreach and selection processes, and the level of support it will provide to the chairholder in helping to establish, sustain and strengthen an equitable, diverse and inclusive research team, environment and ecosystem.

For more details, refer to the Recruitment page and to the additional best practices developed for the Canada Research Chairs Program (CRCP).

The institution’s commitment to EDI is remarkable.

Principles of EDI are fully considered in all aspects of outreach and selection processes.

EDI measures for the chairholder and chairholder’s team are highly appropriate.

The institution’s commitment to EDI is noteworthy.

Principles of EDI are considered in all aspects of outreach and selection processes.

EDI measures for the chairholder and chairholder’s team are very appropriate.

The institution’s commitment to EDI is suitable.

Principles of EDI are considered in all aspects of outreach and selection processes.

EDI measures for the chairholder and chairholder’s team are appropriate.

The institution’s commitment to EDI is modest.

Principles of EDI are considered in most aspects of outreach and selection processes.

EDI measures for the chairholder and chairholder’s team are partially appropriate.

The institution’s commitment to EDI is weak.

Principles of EDI are considered in some aspects of outreach and selection processes.

EDI measures for the chairholder and chairholder’s team, including objectives, are not appropriate.

3.1 Promise of the proposed research program in the context of leading global research in the field, and the extent to which the Chair fills a gap within existing expertise at the institution or in Canada.

The research program’s contributions to its area of research are innovative and the Chair will overcome an extremely important knowledge gap within the institution or in Canada. Its advances in research are likely to have a transformative impact on a global scale.

The research program’s contributions to its area of research are innovative and the Chair will overcome a very important knowledge gap within the institution or in Canada. Its advances in research are likely to have a substantial impact on a global scale.

The research program’s contributions to its area of research are innovative and the Chair will address a knowledge gap within the institution or in Canada. Its advances in research are likely to have an impact on a global scale.

The research program’s contributions to its area of research have some innovative aspects and the Chair partially addresses aknowledge gap within the institution or in Canada.Its advances in research are likely to have a modest impact on a global scale.

The research program’s contributions to its area of research lack in innovativeness and the Chair does not convincingly demonstrate how it will fill a knowledge gap. Its advances in research are not likely to have impacts on a global scale.

3.2 Opportunities for collaborations and partnerships with Canadian and international entities (private sector, international research institutions, academic and/or philanthropic).

The activities through collaborations and partnerships with Canadian and international entities have high relevance to the research program. Partner involvement is highly synergistic and integral to the research program and its intended outcomes.

The activities through collaborations and partnerships with Canadian and international entities are very relevant to the research program. Partner involvement is synergistic and very valuable to the research program and its intended outcomes.

The activities through collaborations and partnerships with Canadian and international entities are relevant to the research program. Partner involvement is complementary and valuable to the research program and its intended outcomes.

The activities through collaborations and partnerships with Canadian and international entities are somewhat relevant to the research program. Partner involvement is mostly complementary and valuable to the research program and its intended outcomes.

The activities through collaborations and partnerships with Canadian and international entities do not appear relevant to the research program. Partner involvement is insufficient to achieve the research program’s intended outcomes.

3.3 Quality of the proposed research program in terms of how it has embedded EDI considerations (e.g., GBA+ or SGBA+) at each of stage of the research process and its associated outcomes (as applicable).

EDI considerations are fundamentally embedded in all stages of the research process as applicable, supporting outcomes that fully benefit impacted communities.

EDI considerations are fully embedded in all stages of the research process, as applicable, supporting outcomes that benefit impacted communities.

EDI considerations are adequately embedded in all stages of the research process, as applicable, supporting outcomes with fair benefit to impacted communities.

EDI considerations are embedded in some stages of the research process, as applicable, supporting outcomes with some benefit to impacted communities.

The integration of EDI considerations into the research process, as applicable, is not evident and the benefit to impacted communities is not appropriate or clearly defined.

3.4 Quality of the proposed research program in terms of how research is co-created and co-led by and with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples, as investigators, trainees, partners and collaborators, and its recognition of Indigenous ways of knowing (as applicable).

Co-creation, collaborative dialogue, co-leadership and co-ownership with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples are fully integrated in the research program and research design, as applicable.

Co-creation, collaborative dialogue, co-leadership and co-ownership with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples are integrated in most aspects of the research program and research design, as applicable.

There is satisfactory engagement and reciprocity with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples present for Indigenous research.

There is modest engagement and reciprocity with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples present for Indigenous research.

The engagement and reciprocity with First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples present for Indigenous research appear to be lacking or are not well described.

3.5 Appropriateness of the proposed budget in terms of it being reasonable and well-justified for carrying out the proposed activities.

The expenditures are very well justified, and the budget is highly appropriate for carrying out the proposed activities.

The expenditures are well justified, and the budget is appropriate for carrying out the proposed activities.

The expenditures are adequately justified, and the budget is acceptable for carrying out the proposed activities.

The expenditures are justified to some extent, and the budget is partially appropriate for carrying out the proposed activities.

The expenditures are poorly justified, and the budget is not appropriate for carrying out the proposed activities.

4.1 Likelihood that the work of the proposed Chair will advance the frontiers of research in the field on a global scale as well as Canada’s reputation as a centre for science, research and innovation excellence.

The proposed research shows remarkable promise in terms of advancing the frontiers of research on a global scale and positioning Canada at the forefront of research excellence.

The proposed research shows noteworthy promise in terms of its global relevance and positioning Canada at the forefront of research excellence.

The proposed research shows strong promise in terms of its global relevance and positioning Canada at the forefront of research excellence.

The proposed research shows some promise in terms of its global relevance and positioning Canada at the forefront of research excellence.

The global relevance of the proposed research and benefits to Canada’s reputation are unclear.

4.2 Plan for establishing and maintaining a diverse chairholder’s team (which includes faculty, early career researchers, research trainees, other highly qualified personnel and administrative staff), and an environment that is safe and inclusive and allows all team members to reach their full research potential (e.g., through the recruitment and outreach strategy, equitable training opportunities, professional development and mentoring).

The plan for building a diverse chairholder’s team is of the highest quality and well defined. The proposed research environment will enable team members to develop their research potential.

The plan for building a diverse chairholder’s team is of high quality and is clearly defined. The proposed research environment will enable team members to develop their research potential.

The plan for building a diverse chairholder’s team is comprehensive and clearly defined. The proposed research environment will enable team members to develop their research potential.

The plan for building a diverse chairholder’s team is moderate and partially defined. The proposed research environment will mostly enable team members to develop their research potential.

The plan for building a diverse chairholder’s team is not appropriate or underdeveloped. The proposed research environment is not sufficiently described to determine whether team members would develop their research potential.

4.3 Extent to which the proposed research program will lead to enriched learning experiences for students, trainees and other highly qualified personnel to develop relevant skills, while fostering advancement and future career opportunities.

The training plans are exemplary; the long-term vision and short-term goals will provide students and other highly qualified personnel with the education and experiences necessary to develop high-quality, transferrable skills that will enhance career prospects in academia, industry or other fields.

The training plans are excellent; the long-term vision and short-term goals will provide students and other highly qualified personnel with the education and experiences necessary to develop good-quality, transferrable skills that will enhance career prospects in academia, industry or other fields.

The training plans are comprehensive; the long-term vision and short-term goals will provide students and other highly qualified personnel with the education and experiences necessary to develop good-quality, transferrable skills that will enhance career prospects in academia, industry or other fields.

The training plans are appropriate but lacking in some detail; the long-term vision and short-term goals will provide students and other highly qualified personnel with the education and experiences necessary to develop relevant skills in support of career readiness.

The training plans are underdeveloped and do not provide sufficient education and experiences for students and other highly qualified personnel to develop relevant skills in support of career readiness.

4.4 Extent to which the proposed research program enhances knowledge mobilization, translation, and dissemination of research results and impacts, so that all relevant sectors of society and a variety of audiences benefit.

The research program shows exceptional potential for knowledge mobilization and translation.

Strategies for engagement with knowledge users and plans for communicating the research results and impacts are of the highest quality.

The research program shows outstanding potential for knowledge mobilization and translation.

Strategies for engagement with knowledge users and plans for communicating the research results and impacts are of high quality.

The research program shows strong potential for knowledge mobilization and translation.

Strategies for engagement with knowledge users and plans for communicating the research results and impacts are of good quality.

The research program shows some potential for knowledge mobilization and translation.

Strategies for engagement with knowledge users and plans for communicating the research results and impacts are of modest quality.

The research program shows little to no potentialfor knowledge mobilization and translation.

Strategies for engagement with knowledge users and plans for communicating the research results and impacts are not adequately outlined.

4.5 Alignment of the proposed research program with one or more of the Government of Canada’s science, technology and innovation (ST&I) research priority areas for the CERC program to create social and economic advantages for Canada.

The research program demonstrates strong alignment with one or more of the ST&I priority areas for the CERC program.

The expected outcomes are very likely to create significant social and economic advantages for Canada.

The research program advances one or more of the ST&I priority areas for the CERC program.

The expected outcomes are very likely to create important social and economic advantages for Canada.

The research program advances one or more of the ST&I priority areas for the CERC program.

The expected outcomes are likely to create important social and economic advantages for Canada.

The research program advances one or more of the ST&I priority areas for the CERC program.

The expected outcomes may create some social and economic advantages for Canada.

The research program does not clearly advance any of the ST&I priority areas for the CERC program.

The expected outcomes are unlikely or not convincingly demonstrated to create social and economic advantages for Canada.